Session 9

Respecting someone after they hurt you

From 2 Samuel: A 5-Week Devotional

During this life, someone is going to hurt us. It might be a friend we thought we knew, or even our own flesh and blood. We are not going to escape this life without someone hurting us. When that happens, it’s easy to focus on what that person did to us, and the hurt that we feel. However, summoning the courage to forgive, and focusing on the positive things about that person will help us move forward.

Saul had been plenty of trouble for David. However, in 2 Samuel 1:17-27, David laments Saul’s death. Three times within this passage, David says, “How the mighty have fallen.” It is pretty powerful to be called mighty, out of respect, by a person you tried to kill.  

David was able to look past the wrongs Saul did to him. Throughout this entire passage of scripture, David never says a bad thing about Saul. Instead, David focuses on the good Saul had done: “Saul and Jonathan—in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions” (2 Samuel 1:23).  

It is hard to think and act positively towards someone who has hurt us terribly, but David sets the perfect example. He talks about how Saul was loved and admired, not about how much trouble he caused. David talked about Saul’s strength, not his weakness.  

There is such a great reward for the swallowing of pride and forgiving—peace.

Every single day, we have a choice to be the bigger person. Yes, it may get tiring, but there is such a great reward for the swallowing of pride and forgiving—peace.  

Reflect:

• Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive?
• Is there a person no longer in your life that you would like to reconnect with after you have forgiven them?
• What is one step you need to take today to forgive and focus on the positive rather than the hurt?